See also Neighbourhood Watch Alerts

Click the picture for online neighbourhood watch

Another useful site is Community Group

Dear Neighbourhood Watch Members

When calling the police...

Say you are from Neighbourhood Watch ALWAYS ask for a log number Ask for feedback if you want any

Please always tell your coordinator after calling the police and give them the log number. This will test the resolve of the police to improve their service to NHW members.

A reminder of some important Police numbers. Keep handy or store in your mobile.

Emergency! RING 999 WHEN: THERE IS A RISK OF INJURY THERE IS A RISK OF SERIOUS DAMAGE TO PROPERTY YOU SUSPECT A CRIME IS IN PROGRESS

Non Emergency 0845 33 00 222

PC Christine Clayton 07736 225305 When on duty, or leave message.

Ken Lane (St Albans Police NHW Liaison Officer) 01727 769087 ken.lane@herts.pnn.police.uk

Barry Welch (Redbourn Ward NHW Coordinator) 01582 626443 barrywelch@ntlworld.com

Rob McIntosh (Redbourn Locality Coordinator) 01582 627169 macsmac@mwfree.net

Colin Rouse 01582 794055 therousehouse@ntlworld.com

Redbourn NW representatives - can take your concerns direct to senior police officers

Neighbourhood Watch is undergoing a major government review. NW member streets will get priority. There will be a new alert system which will send you specific local information about crime in your area by email, text or voice mail. Your coordinator will be telling you about this later in the year.

Watch this space for important new developments from Neighbourhood Watch

Neighbourhood Watch is the biggest and most successful crime prevention initiative ever. Getting together with your neighbours to take action can cut local crime, and encourage community spirit. Neighbourhood Watch is all about looking out for each other. It is people doing what probably used to happen naturally and in some cases probably still does. It means that dozens of eyes and ears are ready to pick up on anything happening in the neighbourhood that could cause worry and concern. It's about being a good neighbour and caring about your community.

Since my local group was formed last year, I have definitely seen a stronger community spirit as people get to know each other and look out for one another, and I have felt as if I live in a community again, and am not just another anonymous neighbour. We have addressed issues like vandalism, mischievous kids, poor lighting, car crime, and traffic issues, as well as becoming more aware of security measures to protect our homes and their contents. We have also got to know PC 548 Christine Clayton, Community Police Constable,.

Being a neighbourhood watch co-ordinator in a group takes very little time and effort and can have great benefits for everyone. It’s very rewarding to feel like you are playing an important role in the local community and it’s a good way for new people in the village to get acquainted with village life. If everyone does something, however small, it really makes a difference.

Contrary to popular belief, the Police are interested in all crimes, and, even if they cannot solve a particular case, calling to report a crime helps them build up a picture, which may lead to more action being taken, or assist in solving other crimes. All suspicious activities can also be reported to your neighbourhood watch co-ordinator who can pass it on to the police. Our circulating of information is the last thing criminals want, as it makes their lives more difficult.

The Neighbourhood Watch Scheme is for everyone and the more we open up our existing friendly line of communication in our village the less we will come under fire from theft and damage to our cars and properties, and worse still, personal attack. Get the stickers in your windows and tell your neighbours when you are going on holiday. Mine ensured the free papers were not left poking out of my letterbox – simple ways of preventing those signs that the house is unattended.

The bonuses of living in a village as opposed to a town are many, but we do not want the message to get out to burglars that we are vulnerable in any way. Let’s step up our own vigilance and make sure we report issues to the Police. Remember we pay for Police service every month in our council tax, in our national taxes, and also a proportion of what we pay to County Hall is re-invested in Policing. The Police are there to serve us and not merely record crime or just to give a crime number, but uphold the law. We have a right to expect the Police to detect a fair proportion of reported crime and a detection rate of less than 25% is unacceptable.

The June Police meeting was well attended and the burglaries that had happened just days before prompted more of us to make the effort to go. Having experienced similar crimes myself, it is very unsettling especially when you have children in the house. We have to make certain the Police take us seriously and hear our complaints. Yes, the meeting was a PR exercise for the Police but also a genuine desire for the Police to recapture our confidence and encourage and support our existing and increasing Neighbourhood Watch Schemes. There was also a useful collection of leaflets and information that many of you took to circulate to friends and neighbours.

We also heard about SAFE that is actively helping the elderly in our village. This countrywide Home Security Service aims to address and combat crime issues by providing a homes security service, free of charge to those who qualify. This service can range from the fitting of security measures –such as locks, door chains, spy holes, and smoke detectors – to provide expert advice on how to stay safe and secure in your home. If you know of anyone in your street who could use this help, starting with a visit from the Crime Prevention Team, please get in touch (60 or over, single parents, vulnerable or housebound).

We are lucky we have a few really helpful Community Police Officers that are approachable. They are a Police resource for which the Police Authority expects communities to contribute to their salaries that our village and many other villages like us cannot afford and these officers have a right to expect our support. However, communication and maximising use of these officers must be a two-way thing the village grapevine is a fantastic source of information, lets make good use of it. Yes, we need to tell our friends and neighbours when something happens but we need to tell the Police too -as the very little bit of information you may personally know may be the vital piece of the jigsaw they are working on to result in an arrest.

Stats are quoted in various articles and papers and can be frustrating, as many of us know how these are played with in all sorts of ways! However what I liked hearing was that those areas in the country that have active Neighbourhood Watch schemes the crime figures are lower –is that a coincidence…I think not! We can work with the Police to get those crime figures down and to make our village safer.

We are all busy people and often assume when we see a stranger acting suspiciously or a different car parked in the street that somebody else would report it –guess what -they don’t! If you don’t feel like reporting it to the Police, then tell your Neighbourhood Watch Co-ordinator. A lot of us use emails now and the instant sharing of vital information via this media is excellent, so if you have had a request to join the growing circulation list please consider it.

We are very fortunate as a village to have Tony Swendell as our Independent Councillor. Tony is active on our behalf, attending Community Safety Meetings and plays an active role with various co-ordinators in the district, as well as the Neighbourhood Watch Co-ordinators. Rob McIntosh the Redbourn Locality Coordinator and Barry Welch the Redbourn Ward Coordinator are both working hard on our behalf and welcome our assistance.

Barry says ‘I would encourage and welcome any enquiries from village residents interested in our aims. You may contact me as the Redbourn Ward Coordinator for Neighbourhood Watch and I will liaise with existing and future co-ordinators for the various street schemes’.

Annie Manning

In association with Redbourn Ward Neighbourhood Watch Co-ordinator Barry Welch

See Also Neighbourhood Watch Alerts and Community Group